The Wildlife Photography of Joe Mac Hudspeth, Jr.

2003/04 Mississippi Duck Stamp & Print

The Northern Pintail

The Northern Pintail is a medium-sized dabbling duck that is abundant
throughout North America. As early as August, these birds begin their fall
migration south and form large roosting and feeding flocks on open,
shallow wetlands and flooded agricultural fields where they will spend
the fall and winter feeding on grains, marsh plants, seeds and aquatic
invertebrates. Northern Pintails nest early and their primary nesting
habitats are the prairie grasslands, arctic tundra of Alaska, Southern
Canada and Northern Great Plains. They prefer to build their nest long
distances from shallow wetlands. Because of this habit, predators and
farming operations destroy thousands of Northern Pintail nests annually
while water shortages threaten their wintering habitats. Since the
early 1970's the population of the Northern Pintail has declined from
6 million to 3 million. Fortunately, habitat restoration, agricultural
land enhancement and prudent harvest restoration are working to ensure
that the Northern Pintail has a secure future in North America.